Let's project ourselves several years into the future...to a time when everyone who wants one can own a desktop publishing system that connects to the Information Superhighway (sort of like today's Internet, but much faster).
Web documents are saved in a compact file format that preserves the creator's choice of fonts, sizes, layout, and color. Viewers for these documents are free for the downloading. Commercial, shareware, and freeware packages are available for creating, searching, and indexing documents using this format.
Some members may choose to receive AAPA papers in the old-fashioned way: through the monthly bundle mailed to them through the Postal Service. Others would be on-line, and would be happy to receive computer-generated publications via the Internet; they would view them on their computer screen, and might choose to print some that could only be fully appreciated on paper.
How could the AAPA take advantage of electronic distribution for the monthly bundle of amateur publications?
Today I would print a master copy, take it to my local quick-print shop to have 350 copies printed, pick up the results several days later (or a few minutes later, if I'm willing to pay extra), package up 325 for the Mailer, and take the package to the Post Office or UPS.
In the idealized future, I would prepare the final document file and e-mail it to AAPA's designated printer and Webmaster.
The AAPA Webmaster would save the Tribune in the official AAPA repository, then create a link to it on the next month's electronic bundle page. The Webmaster would also create several cross-reference links. An alphabetic list of AAPA electronic publications would lead to other Web pages that contain a listing of all the available issues of a particular title. There could also be a page for each member who publishes, edits, or writes that includes a list of all the publications in which they have participated. If there was demand, the bundles could be collected and published on an annual CD-ROM.
The printer would be a commercial printer with whom the AAPA has negotiated a special rate. For this lower rate, the printer prepares the required number of copies (following any special instructions I might include about paper color and folding) and sends the completed Tribunes to the Mailer. I would receive a bill from the printer, or perhaps the cost would be directly charged to my credit card. Since some members would not need to receive a paper copy of my Tribune (they would read it on the Web), I would not need to pay for the printing of copies for each member.
Just because the "designated printer" is available doesn't mean that members have to use the service. Some members might choose to print on their own color printers, or to use a local printer that they trust to do exactly what they want. They could still submit the electronic version to the AAPA Webmaster.
The Mailer would receive two different categories of papers: those that are being distributed only through the bundle and those that are also being distributed electronically. The Mailer would send the complete set of papers to those who pay for "full" service, and leave out the e-journals for members who pay less.
Some members who are able to read papers via the Internet might still choose to receive the "full" bundle just to have a permanent paper copy of all publications. They would get an early look at the electronic publications when the monthly bundle page was published on the Web.
It might be necessary to limit the number of members who receive bundles. Few hand-press operators would want a press run of 500. It there is a group of members who feel no "pain" for a large press run (except for the printing cost), they might not understand the difficulties encountered by those using a manual process.
Anyone who has access to the Internet would be able to read the AAPA electronic bundle. There could be a large number of non-members reading these papers. They would have to join AAPA in order to vote, be eligible for laureate awards, or receive the "regular" bundle.